Mechanical billiard-cue.



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MECHANICAL BILLIARD GUE.

(Application led Feb. 14, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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HENRI VICTOR BEAUFILS,

FFICE.

or PERIGUEUX, FRAN on.

MECHANICAL BlLLlARD-CU E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 673,753, dated May 7, 1901.

Application filed February 14, 1900. Serial No. 5,164. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known vthat I, HENRI VICTOR BEAU- FILS, of Prigueux, France, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mechanical Billiard-Cues,of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to an improved mechanical billiard-cue, which is more particularly adapted for use with small billiard-tables and is designed to permit the players to remain seated and to avoid the necessity of displacing the billiard-table.

The invention consists in providing each end of the mechanical cue with a tip, one of these tips being operated directly by a spring which actuates the cue and the other by the reaction resulting from the expansion of the said spring. To employ a very simple comparison, one of the tips may be taken to produce an effect of the same kind as that of a projectile thrown by a firearm and the other tip to produce an effect similar to that resulting from the recoil of the arm.

This improved cue permits of adjusting to anydesired degree the force of the stroke intended to be given to the balls by providing means whereby the one tip is utilized for energetic strokes and the other for less energetic strokes, the variations in the intensity for intermediate eifects being obtained by holding the tip at a greater or less distance from the ball at the moment of liberating the spring.

In order that my invention may be clearly and readily understood, I will now describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l shows a longitudinal section of the improved cue in its normal position of rest. Fig. 2 is a similar View, but cocked ready for striking. Fig; 3 is also a similar section indicating the extreme position the cue takes immediately after its liberation, and Fig. 41s a transverse section taken on the line A B of Fig. 2.

In carrying the invention into practice the improved cue is formed of a tubular cylindrical body or casing a of any convenient section, which is closed at one extremity by means of a stopper or plug b and at its other freely traversed bya rod d, carrying one of the tips e. A ferrule or rod 0, integral with the plug b, and consequently with the tube a, is fitted with the other tip p. The plug I) and the cap c may be secured to the extremities of the tube or casing by screwing or in any other convenient in an ner. The rod CZ is formed with a collar or cylindrical shoulderf of such a diameter as to enable it to slide freely within the tube or casing a. On each side of this collar is provided two helical springs r s, the stronger one, r, being arranged between the s houlderfland the plug b, while the other spring 8, which is much weaker, is located` between the said shoulderfand the cap c at the opposite end of the tube. In the said collar f is formed a groove g, which corresponds to and ts a longitudinal rib h, provided in the interior of the tube a, the object being to guide the rod and to prevent it from turning during its longitudinal movement. A hole or cavity formed in the shoulderfserves to vreceive a pin or stud fi, provided with a small helical spring 7c, disposed at the bottom of the hole and tending to press.

the pin or stud 7,' outwardly from its cavity. At the point in the tube d corresponding to the inner most limit of the stroke of the collar g there is formed an aperture Z, which affords passage to the said spring pin or stud, and facing this aperture Zis a button m, attached to the end of a blade-spring n, fixed in the interior of the tube a.

The operation of my improved cue is as follows: The cue being in itsnormal condition, as shown in Fig. l, is held by its tubular part, and the tip e is then pressed against any convenient stationary object. This causes the rod d to enter the interior of the tube d by compressing the spring fr until the pin or stud t' is opposite the aperture Z in the casing a. The spring 7c at the back of the stud/tI then presses the same forward into said aperture Zand causes it to engage against the inner portion of the button m. In this manner the cue is cocked ready for use, as shown in Fig. 2.

For causing the cue to strike it is only necessary to press with the fin ger upon the springbutton m, which latter then presses the stud end by a perforated cap c, designed to be t inward until the rod d is released, Where- IOO upon the spring r expands and projects the rod d, fitted with its tip e, forward, While at the same time producing by reaction the recoil of the tube a and tip p, secured thereto at the opposite end, as shown at Fig. 3.

The front or weaker spring 3 has for its object to gradually reduce the force of the stroke.

According to whether it is desired to obtain a more or less energetic blow upon the ball, and thus to either increase or reduce the inten sity of the eftect,the blow should be eected either by the main tip-that is to say, by direct stroke-or by the tip p at the opposite end, and so act by the force ot the recoil. It

will be understood that the amount of movement of the tip p due to reaction or recoil will depend upon the manner in which the cue is held, a light pressure in holding the cue permitting a greater movement of the tip p than a firmer hold on the cue. By placing the tip at a greater or less distance from the ball at the moment of striking it will be easy, owing to the action of the counteroperates by the reaction resulting from the stroke substantially as described.

2. In a mechanical cue the combination of a tube iitted at its rear with a tip, a rod arranged partially in such tube and provided at its outer extremity with a second tip, the said rod being connected with the tube by an intermediary operating-spring, a second or counter spring, and a catch, so arranged as to cause the operating-spring to simultaneously affect both tips, one in a direct manner by the expansion of the spring, and the other by the recoil of the tube produced by the re action, while permitting the intensity of the stroke to be Varied by using the one or the other of the two tips at a greater or less distance from the ball substantially as described.

3. In a mechanical cue the arrangement of a plug-ferrule furnished with a tip, and secured to the rear of a mechanical cue, in which the action is obtained by the projection of a rod provided with a tip, under the sudden expansion of an operating-spring, for the object ot utilizing the recoil of the cue under said expansion of the operating-spring such cue being specially intended for use with small billiards or the like so as to permit the player to remain seated wit-hout displacing the billiard-table substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRI VICTOR BEAUFILS.

Witnesses: y

ALBERT MICHEL, JAMES L. CHAssEREAU. 

